A 46-year-old Pembroke man died of heroin and cocaine abuse which aggravated his asthma, a Coroner ruled yesterday.

Coroner Justin Williams ruled that David Winfield Talford died as a result of misadventure and ruled out foul play after hearing evidence at the Berkeley Road man?s inquest.

Mr. Talford died on November 10, 2003 after being rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by a friend after he started suffering from breathing difficulties.

Mr. Williams concluded that Mr. Talford died as a result of ?poly drug abuse and status asthmatics (asthma). There was no foul play. He died as a result of misadventure. The court offers its condolences to Mr. Talford?s family and friends.?

Coroner?s officer Insp. Philip Taylor read a three-page statement from consultant pathologist at KEMH, Dr. Kered James, who wrote that Mr. Telford could not breathe when he was brought to the hospital in a car.

He stopped breathing in the emergency room and although CPR was performed, he was pronounced dead 15 minutes later, she said.

Government analyst Nadine Kirkos told the court that on November 27, 2003, she tested samples of Mr. Talford?s blood and urine. She said that substantial amounts of heroin and cocaine were found in his body after he died.

She said one milligram of his blood contained 0.35 micrograms of morphine ? a fatal level.

Traces of cocaine were also found in his body. Mrs. Kirkos said that cocaine is metabolised in the body and produces another chemical and 62.45 milligrams of this chemical (benzoylecognine) were found in one litre of his urine.

Mr. Talford?s friend, Michael Stoneham, told the inquest that at 5 p.m. that day, he went to Mr. Talford?s home. He noticed that Mr. Talford was experiencing breathing difficulties but said it ?did not seem too serious because I had seen him like that before?.

But after he had made a cup of tea, ?I saw David walking across the road, stumbling in front of Beverly Smith?s car?.

Mr. Stoneham and Ms Smith drove Mr. Talford to the hospital, but ?by Montpelier the traffic was heavy?.

?I jumped out of the car to tell people what was happening and we got the car through ... David was moving his arms like he wanted air. He couldn?t breathe,? Mr. Stoneham said.

Mr. Talford?s mother was in the court, along with his sister Patricia Holder.